What is the instinct test?
A short evaluation in which the dog is placed, safely, near a few animals to see whether it shows driving behaviour. It is the usual first step before any training.
Herding and livestock
Herding Trials
The umbrella term for livestock driving trials: several styles, several species driven, and levels from a simple instinct test up to advanced classes.
About the discipline
What Herding Trials are
Herding trials cover more than the classic British style. There are continental trials where the dog guards a boundary and keeps the flock within limits, and farm-style trials with practical obstacles.
Work is done with sheep, but also with ducks or cattle, depending on the format and the dog's size. Levels start with a simple instinct test and rise to advanced classes with complex courses.
Being a broad term also means rulebooks differ considerably between organisations. It is worth checking exactly which format the club you approach runs.
How it works in practice
What a trial may contain
- an instinct test, as a first step
- gathering and moving the flock
- driving through gates or obstacles
- keeping the flock within a marked area
- separating individual animals from the group
- penning or loading for transport
Which dogs it suits
- herding breeds of all kinds
- dogs with a driving instinct confirmed at a test
- teams with access to livestock
What you need
- access to livestock and ground
- minimal kit: a crook and possibly a whistle
- guidance from an experienced instructor
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Herding Trials
Is it only done with sheep?
No. Depending on the format and the dog's size, ducks are used - suitable for small breeds - or cattle, in the specialist classes.
My breed is not a herding breed. Any chance?
Instinct tests are often open to other breeds, but the competitive classes are naturally dominated by those selected over centuries for this work.
How long before a dog works independently?
Years, not months. The instinct shows quickly, but distance control, stopping under pressure and working the correct side of the flock are built over hundreds of hours with real livestock. Most teams spend the first year on foundations alone, before any complete course.
The rule figures on this page come from FCI - Rules for International Herding Trials, Traditional Style. Rules change and federations differ - always check the rulebook of the competition you are entering.
From the same category
Related sports
Cattle Dog Trials
Driving cattle.
Duck Herding
Steering ducks through obstacles.
Sheepdog Trials
Driving sheep through a set course.
We do not run Herding Trials
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.